Brad Prezant supplemented his Master's Degree in Environmental Health with a Master’s in Business Administration, taking his science background into the business world. The business he started in 1987 has grown from a one-man shop into the largest locally owned industrial hygiene consulting, laboratory, and health and safety training organi-zation in the Pacific Northwest. It employs 35 people in Seattle, Spokane, and Mount Vernon.

After he received his MSPH degree, Prezant worked for five years with what is now called the Field Research and Consultation Group, consulting on indoor air quality and ergonomics.

He has continued to pursue his interest in indoor air quality—especially mold. He is an affiliate instructor and teaches indoor air quality in EHVH 557, the depart-ment's Industrial Ventilation class.
Prezant Associates includes DEH master's graduates, such as David Chawes (‘81), Rick Gleason (‘80), and Dianne Knutson (‘99). Gleason teaches in DEH, as does Kate Stewart, whose ergonomics consulting firm merged with Prezant Associates in 1999.

“We are the only consulting firm with such strong ties with the department,” Prezant said. “We are appreciative of the opportunities the department has given us, and we support UW in any way we can.”
The field of Industrial Hygiene has broadened in the 20 years since he graduated to include other public health issues. In addition to investigating health and safety hazards in factories, the new economy takes industrial hygienists into office buildings and single- and multi-family residences.

Prezant calls industrial hygiene a “great field for anyone interested in the application and communi-cation of science ... It isn't pure science—we are out doing practical applications—taking science and applying it every day.” The application of science to public health gives Environmental Health graduates a broader perspective than, for example, engineering. “Public health is our raison d’être,” he said.

For more information
http://www.prezant.com/

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